Some Of The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame’s Biggest Icons Are Celebrated In Vintage Photos Celebrating The First Ever Induction

On December 21, 1970, at his own request, Presley met then-President Richard Nixon in the Oval Office of The White House. Public domain / mediadrumworld.com

By Liana Jacob

RETRO photographs of rock legends Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry have emerged on the anniversary of the first celebrities being inducted into the legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Vintage photos show the classic Jailhouse Rock singer Elvis Presley performing live at the Mississippi-Alabama Fairgrounds in 1956 and another picture of him posing next to then-President of America, Richard Nixon, in the Oval Office of the White House.

Further images depict the charisma of Chuck Berry strumming on his guitar during the Midnight Special TV programme in 1973 and a publicity picture for Brunswick Records of Buddy Holly in 1957.

Other pictures show Buddy Holly with his famous thick-rimmed black glasses posing with Waylon Jennings in a photobooth in New York, 1959.

Photo of Ray Charles in one of his classic poses at the piano (Nov 1969). Public domain / mediadrumworld.com

Associate curator of the museum, Meredith Rutledge-Borger started working there from 1999 as a visitor representative.

“The Hall of Fame Foundation was setup in 1983, by Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. Three years later, in 1986, it was determined that Cleveland would become the home of the museum, because of its rich rock ‘n’ roll history,” she said.

Photo of James Brown performing on the ABC Television program Music Scene (Sept 1969). Public domain / mediadrumworld.com

Artists can only become inducted in a category 25 years after the release of their first record. To be inducted, an artist must be nominated by a committee that selects from nine to 12 candidates.

Buddy Holly (1958). Public domain / mediadrumworld.com

John Lennon’s two sons; Julian and Sean inducted the king of rock n roll himself, Elvis Presley, on January 23, 1986, and on the same day Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke and Buddy Holly were also inducted.

Photo of Chuck Berry on the television program The Midnight Special (Nov 1973). Public domain / mediadrumworld.com

“There’s no place like it in the world. We engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock and roll, every single day. There’s something here for everyone,” Meredith said.

Photo of singer Sam Cooke in the recording studio in 1961. Public domain / mediadrumworld.com

“The music we celebrate is the soundtrack to all of our lives – it unites and teaches us about our past and our future.”

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was established on April 20, 1983, by Atlantic Records founder and chairman Ahmet Ertegun.

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